Sunday, Feb. 24 SECOND SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioner
4:00 PM Deanery Stations of the Cross – Transfiguration of Our Lord,
Nanticoke, PA

Wednesday, Feb. 27
9:30 AM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Friday, March 1
6:30 PM Stations of the Cross – Sorokousty Service

Saturday, March 2
4:00 PM Joseph Kosar – Mr. & Mrs. Frank Himeler

Sunday, March 3 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
4:00 PM Deanery Stations of the Cross – SS Peter & Paul, U.C.C.
Wilkes-Barre, PA

SANCTUARY LIGHT: Not requested

THANKS: We wish to thank all those who helped at the Fellowship after the Stations last Sunday. The monetary donations received from: The Halloways, Geri Kolotelo, Arlene Jones, Mrs. Florence Kloap, Ann Beshada and guests at the hall were so helpful in supplying all the food served after the Stations. Also many thanks for all the desserts and food made by our ladies: Anna Bosack, Carol Kosek, Mary Oshirak, Louise Hubiack, Vera Hubick, Cathy Wasichanin, Anna Koprowski, Sonya Dempsey, Mary Cittendon. All the help for this event is greatly appreciated.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: SS Peter & Paul Women’s Society will meet Tuesday, Mar. 12th – 6:30 PM in the Church Hall. This is the first meeting after the long cold winter.
President Anna Magill will preside. New members are always welcome.

CALENDAR LOTTERY: The May Lottery tickets are available and you are asked to be cooperative in buying and trying to sell some of the tickets.

BUILDING FUND: We would like to thank Mary Ann Hubick for her donation of $100 to our Building Fund in memory of Joseph Kosar and all deceased members of the Kosar Family. We sincerely appreciate this generous donation.

LENTEN MISSION: SS Cyril & Methodius Church in Berwick PA will host a Lenten Mission on March 3rd, 4th, 5th this year. There will be a short service and talk scheduled each evening at 6:30 p.m. The Retreat Master will be Fr. Ihor Kolisnyk, the Provincial Superior of the Redemptorist Fathers from Lviv, Ukraine. Fr. Ihor is fluent in English.

Sunday, February 24 – 8:30 AM – SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

The first Sunday of the Great Fast is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy. What do we mean by “orthodoxy”? The word “orthodoxy” stems from the Greek word “orthodoxia” (orthos=right; doksa=opinion) which signifies the true faith and the true worship of God. We are not speaking here of orthodoxy as we understand it today as being opposed to the Catholic Church, but orthodoxy, as applied to the whole Church of Christ until the schism between the Eastern and Western Churches which occurred in the eleventh century under the patriarch Cerularius (1054). The orthodoxy that we celebrate this Sunday is universal-catholic orthodoxy, professed by the entire Church of Christ of the first centuries in the battle against the heresy of Iconoclasm (Gr – eikon=image; klastes=a breaker; – an image breaking heresy). The Sunday of Orthodoxy is a festival for the whole Church, both Eastern and Western. It is the festive celebration of the decisive victory over Iconoclasm and other heresies.
The purpose of this feast is to pay solemn public homage and veneration to the holy icons of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Mother of God, and all the Saints.
The Church of Christ deeply respects and honors the holy icons as it also does holy relics. She places them in church for public veneration and recommends that we venerate them privately in our homes, and wear small icons around our necks in the form of little crosses or medals.

SUNDAY LITURGIES DURING LENT:
WHY DO THEY SEEM LONGER?
Our Byzantine Rite prescribes that the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is to be celebrated on all of the Sundays of Great Lent, instead of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is usually celebrated throughout the rest of the church year. St. Basil’s Liturgy is older and has longer priestly prayers than the St. John Chrysostom Liturgy (which was derived from the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great), and is celebrated ten times during the church year: the five Sundays of Lent (not Palm Sunday), Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Christmas Eve, Epiphany Eve, and on the actual Feast of St. Basil which we celebrate on January 1

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week February 16 – 24 by Charles Drazba in memory of Marie Drazba.

The Sanctuary Light for the week of February 23 – March 2 is available for your request.
The Altar Candles that will burn for all the services in the month of March, July, August and September are available for requests. A Donation of $40 for the month will be in memory of a loved one, in honor of a relative or friend or a special occasion.

DEANERY STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Our Parish will be the host for this Sunday, February 17th at 4:00 PM for the Deanery Stations of the Cross. A Fellowship will follow in the church hall. We are asking all parishioners to please try to attend this beautiful service.
Schedule for the Deanery Station of the Cross
Sunday, Feb. 17 4:00 PM – SS Peter & Paul, Plymouth, PA
Sunday, Feb. 24 4:00 PM – Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke, PA
Sunday, March 3 4:00 PM – SS Peter & Paul, Wilkes-Barre, PA
Sunday, March 10 4:00 PM – St. Nicholas, Glen Lyon, PA
Sunday, March 17 4:00 PM – St. Vladimir, Edwardsville, PA

Please remember all those who are in Nursing Facilities, at home or in the hospital.
Clara Patrylak is now residing at Country Meadows, 420 Crocks Road, Allentown, PA, 18106 room 234. Joseph Sawka is at Guardian Care, Mrs. Florence Kloap resides at Clark Summit Senior Living in Clarks Summit, and prayers are always helpful for all.

Sunday, February 17 FIRST SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST
8:30AM God’s Blessing and Good Health for all parishioners
4:00 PM DEANERY STATIONS OF THE CROSS

THE CEREMONY OF FORGIVENESS
CHEESEFARE SUNDAY
In ancient times in Eastern monasteries a beautiful custom existed in which the rite of mutual forgiveness on Cheesefare Sunday was performed. This rite of forgiveness was carried out in the evening, following a modest repast. All the monks in the presence of the faithful asked pardon of one another for past offences, then embraced, and gave each other the kiss of peace. The faithful did the same among themselves. In some places, while this rite of forgiveness was being carried out, the stichera of the Pasch (Resurrection) was sung: “Today the sacred Pasch has been shown forth to us…” The last stichera ends with an appeal for mutual forgiveness: “and let us embrace one another and say: ‘Brethren’ even to those who hate us, and let us forgive all things…” The singing of the sticheras of the Pasch (Resurrection) was to signify that just as during the season of Pasch or Eastertide, so now at the threshold of the Great Fast we should mutually ask pardon for offences for the sake of Christ who fasted, suffered, and rose for our sake.
This very moving rite of forgiveness was still observed at the Kievan Pecherska Lavra until the Communists took over the government. Here also, the monks first had a meager pre-Lenten repast, after which all superiors and monks donned their mantles and proceeded to the church. All the superiors of the Lavra, from the highest to the lowest, stood side by side in the middle of the church and the whole monastic community, consisting of several hundred members, one by one approached the superiors, then kneeling, they kissed each other three times while saying, “Forgive me, Father,” or Forgive me Brother.” During this time, the choir sang the stichera taken from the solemn Vespers of Cheesefare Sunday: “Adam sat opposite paradise bewailing his nakedness…” After the completing of the ceremony, all present departed in silence.
Truly, these four pre-Lenten Sundays have a deep significance for our spiritual life. For whoever beats his breast as did the Publican and learns humility from his
example; whoever learns from the parable of the Prodigal Son to trust in God’s mercy; whoever on Meatfare Sunday, after meditation on the Terrible Judgment, is seized with fear of God’s justice, which fell so severely upon our First Parents, as we have seen in the service of Cheesefare Sunday – for him that fast will not be so terrible. Rather, he will understand that it is necessary for his heart and soul. He will willingly fast and make
Prostrations, knowing that fasting and sorrow for sins can best prepare him for the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested for February 9 – 16 by Sandy Gerzarowski in memory of her sister Rebecca Jacobs.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar candles are requested to burn for all services in the month of February by Kerri Potsko in memory of Marian Zurinsky.

LENTEN SERVICES: The Way of the Cross and Sorokousty will be held in our parish every Friday evening during Lent. Please try to sacrifice a little time for the Way Our Lord suffered on His way to be crucified. This is a solemn and religious service and should be attended by all the faithful.

DEANERY STATIONS: Stations of the Cross by the Deanery will be held in various parishes on Sunday’s during Lent. The Stations of the Cross will be held in our Parish next Sunday, February 17th at 4:00 PM. This service is done in reverence and all who are able should attend these services. Make our parish have a good showing next Sunday. Fellowship will follow and we are asking all our good dessert makers for help in providing the desserts.
Please remember to sign in if you plan on supplying a dessert,etc. for the fellowship after the Deanery Stations of the Cross.

ST. VLADIMIR UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH of Scranton is sponsoring a bus trip to the annual St. George Ukrainian Street Festival, Lower East Side of Manhattan on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Side trips to Brooklyn will include Little Odessa/ Brighton Beach and Little Poland/Greenpoint. The 55 passenger bus will depart from the church parking lot, 428 North Seventh Avenue at 8:00am. Departure from New York City will be at 9:00pm.
Cost is $35.00 per person. Full advance nonrefundable payment reserves a seat. Check should be made out to St. Vladimir Church. For reservations contact Paul Ewasko

ST. VLADIMIR UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH of Scranton is sponsoring a bus trip to the annual St. George Ukrainian Street Festival, Lower East Side of Manhattan on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Side trips to Brooklyn will include Little Odessa/ Brighton Beach and Little Poland/Greenpoint. The 55 passenger bus will depart from the church parking lot, 428 North Seventh Avenue at 8:00am. Departure from New York City will be at 9:00pm.
Cost is $35.00 per person. Full advance nonrefundable payment reserves a seat. Check should be made out to St. Vladimir Church. For reservations contact Paul Ewasko at 563-2275.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week, February 2 – 9 by Louise Hubiack in memory of Mother Frances Pliska and Mary Hubiack.
The Sanctuary Light is available for request on February 23 – March 2.

DEANERY STATIONS: Stations of the Cross by the Deanery will be held in various parishes on Sunday’s during Lent. It is becoming more difficult to arrange this beautiful service because of the lack of volunteers to read each station. If anyone is interested in doing this during Lent you may contact Gabe Metric or any member of the deanery. The Sunday of February 17th, The Stations of the Cross will be held in our parish with a light social to follow. We are asking all of our good dessert makers if they will be so kind to contribute to the Social for after the Stations.

LENTEN SERVICES: The Way of the Cross and Sorokousty will be held in our parish every Friday evening during Lent. Please try to sacrifice a little time for the Way Our Lord suffered on His way to be crucified. This is a solemn and religious service and should be attended by all the faithful.

SYMPATHY: We extend our sincere sympathy to Vera Hubick, her brother Joseph Kosar who was called to his Eternal Rest. May his memory be eternal.

NOTES FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Many important things were discussed at the last Parish council Meeting. A Landscaping project must be done in the front of the New Stained Glass Icons. The cost is very high and if you would like to donate toward this project it will be greatly appreciated. Our yearly Sviachene (After Easter dinner) will be held on Sunday, April 14th in the Church Hall. This is for all Parishioners, their friends and families. Further information will be published in the future.